Electrical connector



Feb. 11, 1947. M. o. BALLER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 1, 1943INVENTOR. MELVIN D. BALLER Patented Feb. 11, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFYCE moraroar. CONNECTOR I Melvin 1). Bullet, ma Bank, N. J.Application September 1, 1943, Serial No. 500,805 v 2 Claims. (01.173-363) (came under the act oi March 3, 1883, as amended April so,1928; 3'10 0. o. 757) The invention described herein may be manufacturedand used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without thepayment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical connectors.

High-power electronic tubes generate considerable heat. If it is notquickly dissipated, the terminals of the tube electrodes, may getexcessively hot and permanent injury to the tubes may result. As veryhigh voltages appear at the terminals, high voltage corona discharge andarcing may occur.

An object of this invention is to provide a con-- 7 nector which willinsure goodtransmission of electrical energy between a terminal of atube electrode and a circuit, which will make a secure mechanical unionwith the terminal so as to be able to withstand considerable movementand vibration, which will rapidly dissipate the heat generated, andwhich will prevent or minimize arcing.

I accomplish the foregoing by surrounding an electrical contact meanswith a body of relatively large mass and of good heat conductingmaterial, such as metal, so as to cause a rapid dissipation of the heatthrough said body and into the circumambient atmosphere. In order toprevent corona discharge and arcing, the exterior of said body shouldhave a surface of full flowing rotund curves, free of protuberances,such as fins, and all surfaces of sa d body should be smooth and withoutsharp edges. Thus, the body may be spherical, spheroidal, ellipsoidal,etc. The electrical contact means comprise a plurality of resilientfingers which make a tight frictional fit about the terminal.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a connector in engagement with anelectrod terminal of a highpower radio tube.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of said connector.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the terminal gripping element of the connectoroi'Fig. 2.

4 is a left end view of the terminal gripping element of Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 a connector I3 is shown attached to one of the electrodeterminals II of a high-power radio tube II. The connector I3 comprises ametal sphere M and a metal terminal gripping element i5, diametricallydisposed within the sphere. All surfaces of the sphere id are smooth andwithout sharp edges.

A cylindrical portion 22 of the terminal gripping element l5 (shown atthe right in Figs. 2

and 3) is firmly secured within the sphere i5,

by a drive fit, and is provided with an axial cavity 20, into which issoldered a flexible conducting lead iii. The balance of the terminalgripping element l5 has a tapered lateral surface ii, is longitudinallysplit into four radially resilient fingers l8, and is provided with anaxial bore I'l'. The bore I! has a slightly smaller diameter than theelectrode terminal l2 and has a bevel 23 at its outer end to facilitateinsertion therein of the terminal IS. A circumferential space l9 aboutthe tapered surface 2| is provided within the sphere H to allowexpansion of the gripping fingers Ill.

The mass and surface area of the metal sphere N allow for rapiddissipation .of the generated heat. The smooth surface of the sphere it,free of sharp edges or any protuberances such as fins, prevents arcing.The fingers i8 securely grip the terminal I! and make good electricalcontact therewith. Although in the drawing I have shown the ends of thefingers l8 extending beyond' the surface of the sphere it, they may beshorter so as to be entirely within said sphere.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention as used in conjuncton with a radio tube, but it is obvious that other uses as well aschanges or omissions in structure may be made without departing from thespirit thereof.

I claim:

l. A connector for joining electrical lead to a terminal of anelectrical device, comprising a smooth surfaced body, substantiallycurved throughout, and of good heat conducting material, means toreceive and firmly grip said terminal, said means being substantiallycentrally located within said body and said means being in electricalengagement with said electrical lead, said means including a baseportion in good heat transferring engagement with said body and aplurality of radially resilient fingers extending from said base portionand spaced from the in terior of said body to allow radial movement ofsaid fingers for slidable insertion therebetween or removal, therefromof a terminal.

aeraeoa 2. A device for mechanically and electrically connecting anelectric lead to a terminal of an electronic tube and for dissipatingheat from said lead and terminal, comprising a body portion; and contactmeans; said body portion being a diametrically apertured ball of solid,good heat conducting material, and having a smooth surface, free ofsharp edges; said contact means being substantially centrally locatedwithin said body and including a base portion in tight, triotionalengagement within said body, for good heat transfer from said contactmeans to said body; said contact means being of good electrical and heatconducting material; said contact means having integral therewith askirt extending longitudinally from one end within which the electricallead may be soldered; and said contact means having integral therewith aplurality of radially resilient fingers extending longitudinally fromthe other end and spaced from the interior of said body to allow radialmovement of said fingers, between which fingers said terminal may beslid axially in one direction so as to be firmly gripped therebetweenand slid axially in the opposite direction so as to be disengagedtherefrom.

MELVIN D. BAILER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

